Specialist Lymphoma and Steroids.

[piggies04]

As per my previous posts Misty's infection has been confirmed now as Lymphoma.
Vet has offered Steroids to be started either now or when she starts to show signs of deteriation.
Anyone used steroids for this?
Thank you, just want to be sure this would help her stay comfortable and maybe give us extra time with her.
x

 

[sport_billy]

The prognosis with Lymphoma as you can probably guess is not good, there is no cure. I am so sorry, we have been through it wit one of our girls.

We noticed Treacle had lost weight and found a lump under her chin. Upon closely inspection at the vets our vet showed us several other lumps around lymph nodes on piggies legs etc... Rosie was certain it was Lymphoma and told us the treatment options. We could slow the progress down with steroids or try Chemo. There is no way we could put an animal through Chemotherapy so we choose to try and give Treacle a little longer with us by steroid injections.
Rosie assured us that the Lymphoma Treacle had was causing her no pain and up until the night she passed away she was a very happy content piggy (apart from the few episodes of bloat) From diagnosis till Treacy passed was around 1 month, but her lumps where quite big.

I would certainly recommend steroid treatment via injections think Treacy had two shots. Sides effects are they lower immune system but we had no issues with infections from what I recall. So vet needs to keep eye on this.
Also means they can’t have standard pain relief in metacam as it is anti inflammatory. Our vet prescribed an opiate for pain releif as treacle had a bladder issue and most importantly emeprid was prescribed also as opiates can slow guts down.

Most important thing is keeping them pain free for as long as possible before helping them across the bridge when they need it, please discuss this with the vet so you know what to look out for when the time comes.

Appetite is higher as well, we feed her extra each day It was a very bitter sweet time as Treacy got used to coming out for extra feed and would sit on my chest eating hay when I lay on the floor with her
Here is a link to Treacle's thread, I kept it updated with her progress.... Treacle has Lymphoma as you can guess it doesn't end happily. But I wouldn't have changed a thing with her treatment wise.

I am so sorry again

Lee

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I am very sorry that your fears have realised.

It depends very much on how aggressive and advanced the lymphoma is. You may have just got days and weeks, but only VERY rarely a very few months at the very best (I know of only one piggy that has achieved that).

Please don't hang all your hopes and thoughts on gaining more days but concentrate on making every remaining day special and count it as a blessing. Love transcends time; it is the quality and not the quantity of time that counts!
I have found that it helps me to focus better on what really matters if re-set the life clock to zero and cherish every day that my terminally ill piggy still has with me with a decent quality of life as a special gift instead of spending the time dreading the inevitable end and concentrating my energy on staving it off.
That is the one big lesson I took from my dad's three year battle with terminal cancer: Even at this stage, you have important choices - and that is the one big gift that you have with anybody you know that the end is coming that you do not have with a sudden death.
You may find the chapter about looking after a terminally ill guinea pig in this link here helpful because your grieving process starts the moment you are facing the high or total certainty of death with a beloved one: Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

Steroids are generally not recommended for rodents, so I can't say whether they will really do what your vet thinks.
But I know that they have been used by exotics vets in terminal conditions before to boost quality of life in the very short term when longer term concerns no longer apply.
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.

I am linking our medically more experienced members into the thread for you:
@Jaycey @helen105281 @Abi_nurse @furryfriends (TEAS)

Wishing you and your beloved little one all the best! Lymphoma is one of the things that we all dread, so my thoughts are with you!

 

[sport_billy]

Yes I wanted to add that, steroid use is an odd one, we were led by a very good vet on this but each case is different and I am sure our health and illness experts can offer better advice.

Keeping your little one pain free and happy until the end is the most important thing to do

 

[piggieminder]

Sending you hugs and my very best wishes at this difficult time.

 

[Swissgreys]

Our expereince when Oreo had Lymphoma was very similar to @sport_billy and I found his thread immensely helpful in preparing me for what was to come.

We also did the steroid injections, and although I have no idea if it made a difference, it was recommended by an experienced guinea pig specialist so we had to give it a try.

But whatever path you choose will be the right one for Misty.
There are no clear cut answers in these situations so go with your heart.

 

[piggies04]

The prognosis with Lymphoma as you can probably guess is not good, there is no cure. I am so sorry, we have been through it wit one of our girls.

We noticed Treacle had lost weight and found a lump under her chin. Upon closely inspection at the vets our vet showed us several other lumps around lymph nodes on piggies legs etc... Rosie was certain it was Lymphoma and told us the treatment options. We could slow the progress down with steroids or try Chemo. There is no way we could put an animal through Chemotherapy so we choose to try and give Treacle a little longer with us by steroid injections.
Rosie assured us that the Lymphoma Treacle had was causing her no pain and up until the night she passed away she was a very happy content piggy (apart from the few episodes of bloat) From diagnosis till Treacy passed was around 1 month, but her lumps where quite big.

I would certainly recommend steroid treatment via injections think Treacy had two shots. Sides effects are they lower immune system but we had no issues with infections from what I recall. So vet needs to keep eye on this.
Also means they can’t have standard pain relief in metacam as it is anti inflammatory. Our vet prescribed an opiate for pain releif as treacle had a bladder issue and most importantly emeprid was prescribed also as opiates can slow guts down.

Most important thing is keeping them pain free for as long as possible before helping them across the bridge when they need it, please discuss this with the vet so you know what to look out for when the time comes.

Appetite is higher as well, we feed her extra each day It was a very bitter sweet time as Treacy got used to coming out for extra feed and would sit on my chest eating hay when I lay on the floor with her
Here is a link to Treacle's thread, I kept it updated with her progress.... Treacle has Lymphoma as you can guess it doesn't end happily. But I wouldn't have changed a thing with her treatment wise.

I am so sorry again

Lee

Thank you for the reply, I may well take the steroids offered by vet when I can call her back this week.
At the moment she still seems fine, eating and licking everyone as normal - my youngest daughter is hoping "vet has got it wrong".
Have read your post about Treacle and a few others located off the search bar - such sad reading, but need to be prepared and know what to expect.
Thank you.

 

[sport_billy]

Thank you for the reply, I may well take the steroids offered by vet when I can call her back this week.
At the moment she still seems fine, eating and licking everyone as normal - my youngest daughter is hoping "vet has got it wrong".
Have read your post about Treacle and a few others located off the search bar - such sad reading, but need to be prepared and know what to expect.
Thank you.

It was sad but we grieved before we lost her in many ways which helped with acceptance of her loss, compared to the utter shock of losing piggies unexpectedly and we made everyday she had left with us happy for her.

Sending lots of love to your little piggy and a hug to you. Here if you need to talk.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the reply, I may well take the steroids offered by vet when I can call her back this week.
At the moment she still seems fine, eating and licking everyone as normal - my youngest daughter is hoping "vet has got it wrong".
Have read your post about Treacle and a few others located off the search bar - such sad reading, but need to be prepared and know what to expect.
Thank you.

All the best! It is sad and not something any of us want to face; but it is ultimately better for you, too, if you face up to it and make the best of whatever time you have left. The grieving link will also hopefully help you to support your daughter through it all.

HUGS

 

[Swissgreys]

Thank you for the reply, I may well take the steroids offered by vet when I can call her back this week.
At the moment she still seems fine, eating and licking everyone as normal - my youngest daughter is hoping "vet has got it wrong".
Have read your post about Treacle and a few others located off the search bar - such sad reading, but need to be prepared and know what to expect.
Thank you.

My daughter was exactly the same when Oreo was diagnosed.
Because Oreo didn't look ill, my daughter kept trying to convince me that maybe the vet made a terrible mistake, or maybe Oreo was going to be the pig that beat the odds.

This was actually almost the hardest part - watching her grieve so hard before Oreo was gone.
In the end what helped us (and it certainly not the right path for everyone going through this) was setting a date, discussing what would happen, and giving my daughter (who was 13 at the time) the chance to be there when we had Oreo put to sleep.
Because it was her first big loss I didn't want it to end up being a last minute emergency dash to the vets, or worse still, for her to see Oreo suffer in any way.
So we certainly let Oreo go a few days (a week?) before she really had to.
But in hindsight it was absolutely the best thing for us to have done.
Oreo's passing was planned, peaceful and my daughter held her the entire time.
I do not regret the choices we made for a minute.

 

[piggies04]

After a lovely weekend sitting in the sun, Misty crossed over the rainbow bridge early Monday morning.
We miss her so much, but are relieved she did not suffer and went in her sleep with her 3 sisters.
Thank you all that commented, I know how hard it is to write about such sad times.
x

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry but I sincerely hope that we have been able to make the last days easier on both of you. The pain of the loss never gets any less, but knowing that you have done all you could and that you have not failed Misty in any way during her journey is going to make your grieving process quite a lot easier on you.

RIP Misty - popcorn free of pain again at the Rainbow Bridge!

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry that you have lost Misty, but glad you had a lovely weekend with her
Sleep tight beautiful girl x

 

[sport_billy]

After a lovely weekend sitting in the sun, Misty crossed over the rainbow bridge early Monday morning.
We miss her so much, but are relieved she did not suffer and went in her sleep with her 3 sisters.
Thank you all that commented, I know how hard it is to write about such sad times.
x

Massive hugs, I am so pleased nature was kind to her and she passed peacefully with her friends. Have a big hug and please feel free to leave a tribute for little Misty in our Rainbow Bridge section where it will stay always

Sleep well little girl

RIP Misty
x x